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Colon Cancer Strikes at 46: A Wake-Up Call for All
23 Apr
Summary
- Shambi Broome ignored symptoms, attributing cramps to past surgeries.
- Colon cancer was diagnosed at age 46, leading to surgery and chemo.
- Treatment for stage 3B colon cancer led to divorce and ongoing neuropathy.

At 45, Shambi Broome, a busy entrepreneur in Columbia, South Carolina, initially disregarded abdominal cramps, attributing them to prior surgeries. Despite no obvious symptoms, a 2021 colonoscopy, recommended due to the lowered screening age of 45, revealed a large tumor.
Broome was diagnosed with colon cancer at 46, requiring surgery to remove the tumor. Further tests revealed the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, staging it at 3B. This necessitated twelve rounds of chemotherapy over six months.
The cancer treatment significantly impacted Broome's life, leading to the dissolution of her 29-year marriage and causing permanent neuropathy. Despite these challenges, she is now cancer-free and advocates for awareness.